Ironman to alter traffic Saturday // MAPS

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Motorists are being urged to use caution and expect delays Saturday as the Ironman Florida triathlon returns to Bay County.

SCOTT CARROLL / The News Herald

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Motorists are being urged to use caution and expect delays Saturday as the Ironman Florida triathlon returns to Bay County.

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office and Panama City Beach Police Department will supervise the race route and temporarily close some intersections throughout the county for the race.

“People need to be aware that there will be some areas affected and impacted when the bike riders come through in the northern part of the county and when the runners are on the beach,” said BCSO spokeswoman Ruth Corley.

Corley said the event is “very well-coordinated” between Ironman officials and law enforcement agencies, and that aside from the occasional cranky driver, motorists have been very accommodating in the past.

“I think people around here have come to expect it,” Corley said.

Triathlon race director Ben Rausa said the route is planned to minimize traffic delays, but motorists should expect holdups beginning about 7 a.m. That’s when triathlon participants will begin the 112-mile bike portion of the race by traveling west on South Thomas Drive. Then they’ll head north on State 79, eventually making their way through Pine Log State Forest and turning east toward Bayou George via State 20 before looping back toward the beach.

The 26.2-mile, two-lap running portion of the race is expected to begin on the beach about 11 a.m. That route also begins on South Thomas Drive, but goes east into St. Andrews State Park. That’s where runners will turn around and head west again, beginning the final stretch of the triathlon toward its finish line at Boardwalk Beach Resort at 9400 South Thomas Drive.

Spectators will be able to line the streets for the running portion of the race. For the biking portion, spectators are encouraged to watch from the race transition area near the Boardwalk Beach Resort. The race should wrap up around midnight.

More than 3,000 fliers have been mailed to residents near the race route notifying them of the triathlon. Signage also will be posted along the route Saturday urging motorists to be alert.

“We have open roads controlled by law enforcement, but they’re still open roads,” Rausa said.

More than 3,200 people have registered to participate in the triathlon, according to Rausa, with about 2,700 people expected to show up on race day. Participants are from 51 countries around the world.

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